Shin Bet Arrests Negev Residents for Alleged Terror Battalion Plot

Israel's General (Shin Bet) revealed on Thursday, October 8, 2026, that it had detained 72 residents from the Negev and southern Israel since the beginning of the year for suspected involvement in activities threatening state security, including terrorism. Of those detained, 67 are Israeli citizens. The Shin Bet stated that in May and June 2026, five suspects from the Bedouin village of Segev Shalom were arrested. These individuals are accused of planning to establish a paramilitary unit in their hometown, modeled after terrorist groups in Judea and Samaria, and preparing various attacks. The Shin Bet reported that the group's leader, who allegedly had ties to Palestinians, promoted this idea and incited terror online. Another member agreed to carry out attacks, including firing on a police station in Segev Shalom and a stabbing and shooting attack at the central bus station in Beersheba, and studied how to build explosives. A third member agreed to become the unit's "engineer" for creating explosive devices, while a fourth, a supporter of the Islamic State, planned a stabbing attack with an explosive device. A fifth member agreed to attack a police station in Segev Shalom.

In July 2026, Abdalla Jarjoui, an Israeli citizen from Segev Shalom, was detained for inciting terrorism and planning an attack at the "Forum" club in Beersheba. He was reportedly in contact with Islamic State activists and expressed support for various terrorist organizations, including ISIS and Hamas, and a willingness to travel to conflict zones abroad.

A senior Shin Bet official stated that these arrests highlight the threat posed by Israeli citizens forming cells to carry out attacks, emphasizing that their plans were thwarted. The official noted the rapid identification of various activists in the Negev aiming for terrorist activities in different formats, posing a real threat.

Dimona Mayor Beni Biton commented on the Shin Bet head's warnings, calling for a comprehensive approach from state structures. He expressed a desire for local authority heads in the Negev to be briefed directly by the Shin Bet and suggested that local leaders had long warned about arms smuggling and other issues in the region. Biton also mentioned receiving concerns from Bedouin community leaders about armed battalions and military infrastructure in their villages, urging against broad accusations that could stigmatize the entire Bedouin sector. He stated that Bedouin local council heads themselves had requested Shin Bet involvement and that the agency's current actions should have prompted a meeting with local leaders.

Biton plans to raise the issue with Shin Bet head David Zini and the Prime Minister, seeking direct information rather than learning about it through the media. He described the situation as a "ticking time bomb" that needs to be defused.

Earlier, a senior police officer on October 7, 2026, sharply criticized Zini's statements, questioning the source of information about "terrorist battalions" in the Negev. Police coordinators working with the Southern District stated they were unaware of the basis for Zini's claims, which were made on October 5, 2026, during a meeting of the political-security cabinet. Zini had informed ministers of alleged connections between these battalions and groups like Hamas, stating they were being formed by Negev Bedouins near major towns.